A Denton police officer shot during a traffic stop Tuesday morning remains in critical but stable condition Wednesday and is showing signs of improvement, according to Chief of Police Frank Dixon.
Urbano Rodriguez Jr., a five-year veteran of the Denton Police Department, was shot twice, once in the head and once in the leg, during a traffic stop on West University Drive a few minutes after midnight Tuesday.
Dixon said after Rodriguez underwent surgery Tuesday that his recovery chances were "favorable."
Rodriguez underwent a second surgery on his leg Wednesday, Denton police tweeted.
The shooting happened after Rodriguez confronted two people in a car about smelling marijuana, according to court documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Please keep our family in your prayers. Media, please see Assistant Chief Smith at our 3:45am presser. I am returning home immediately. I want to thank @CarrolltonTXPD and @FBTXPD for their assistance with getting the suspects detained and our partner agencies for their help. https://t.co/0wPOpdQKMu
— Frank Dixon (@Chief_Dixon2746) October 29, 2019
Antwon Pinkston and Michele Stacey were booked into the Denton County Jail in connection with the shooting. They were both shot in the arm when a back-up officer returned fire, said Dixon.
Pinkston is charged with attempted capital murder and is held on a $5 million bond. Stacey is jailed only on a probation violation but more charges are possible, police said.
Both suspects were briefly treated for superficial wounds and transferred to the Denton County Jail.
"We know him as being a very tough officer but compassionate," Dixon said. "He's a fighter but he truly cares about our community."
The Denton Police Department says the 100 Club of Denton will coordinate all donations for Officer Rodriguez and his family. Click here for the club's website.
